Ratkity – I know that when I first get the DDR I will feel like an incompetent 5 year old, but I figure if I work at it and start at the baby levels then I can get the hang of it and progress. I am a bit worried since I am new to DDR and the Wii version uses the hands as well making it that much tougher. Getting to the gym can be tough when it is so cold, but good for you tracking all your food. I go in and out of phases with that too. Also, I just had to say something about the cafeteria at the Native American Museum in DC. I always thought all museum food sucked until I went there and WOW. That place is just amazing. Great food that fits into the theme of the place – what a concept.

Carrie – That is great news that your loan came through and you didn’t miss any school. I can easily gain 5 pounds during TOM so your plan of waiting seems like a good one.

Lindsey – Thanks for posting that recipe. I might try that even though I haven’t done much in the way of cooking lately.

Catherine – Those pictures are gorgeous! I hope you had a lovely dinner.

Annie - :woohoo: I am so excited for you!!! :dancer: It is so amazing how things work out the way they should.

Carol – The bed is a queen, but it’s IKEA, so it’s in a box and it isn’t THAT heavy. Strangely enough I actually enjoy painting. It is so hard when you get stuck and need to kick it up. What are you planning?

Debbie – Sounds like you need to get out a bit more. What about joining a gym or a Y? Could you take a class or perhaps volunteer somewhere? I don’t know – if it were me I would have the same problem. One thing that helps me in the munchie department is 100-calorie bags of popcorn. If I need something to crunch on that is a nice portion that works really well.

Zelma – As always it is so good to hear for you. It must be hard ending this school year on such a bittersweet note. If you don’t end up liking the split teaching next year can you go back to your own class?

Donna – Sometimes it is really great to have a lazy weekend.

The hatha yoga class last night was somewhat tough for me. It is mostly seated postures and there are a lot where you twist you arm around and try to grab hold of it from the back (I know I am not explaining this very well). I just did the best I could to get the desired stretch and it was still a great workout. Tonight is the one I am really excited about – Zumba. Plus, I saw the teacher at the gym last night. She was giving a demo to the class that was in the room before the yoga and she is a somewhat larger woman (i.e. not a size 2). I think that is very cool.

After long deliberation I have decided to wait to put up the bed until after I have painted. I know myself and I am a VERY messy painter. Also, a piece of the puzzle that I left out is that I have decided to paint my dressers as well. This might be a big mistake, but I am just going to take the chance. So my plan is to buy all my paint this weekend, and then I will spend my Thanksgiving holiday painting. I might even take off an extra day Wednesday or Monday to give myself some extra time to finish everything up. I think this will work out for the best. I have taken “before” shots of my room so I will be able to show the transformation.

No I do not have a hang over. I've only had one or two of those in my life. Ice wine is where they let the grapes freeze on the vine. It is a very sweet dessert wine. I'm going to do liquids today to work it out of my body. What was funny is that we were sitting at a table for four. He was the only man, and he can't drink because of his medicine. So us, women, decided to see if we could drink each other under the table. I haven't had anyone throw a gauntlet down on me in decades. It's also the first time I've done it with wine. Those two women had to be rolled out there practically. This was in the most expensive resort in town. They had closed the dining room off for our group. These are imminent physicians and researchers from as far away as England, acting like people at a sorority party. So he had to deal with 3 drunk women instead of just me. I think he's been paid back for the snails.

YEAH, ANNIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, that is SO AWESOME that you got that job like that! I bet you wanted to scream but were afraid you'd scare 'em - Just like me on Gabe! ;) You SO deserve this and will be such a benefit to the organization and all the people you help!

Hi all! Welcome new friends!

Gabriel comes 'home' tonight. FINALLY, he'll be just down the street & I'll be riding every night. We had a horse show this past cold, rainy weekend. Turned out well - one of my riders came home with her first trophy for high point (over a girl who has been given her a lot of grief in the past.) The other had a difficult day with an unusually excited horse, but triumphed by learning new riding skills and making it through a couple classes with him. Overall it was a good day... especially once I was back home with a hot shower and a hot sandwich.

My friend with the pancreatic cancer can no longer work, but is still determined to complete an commitment to cater a 100 person wedding reception this weekend. I think she's crazy, but I'm going to help her this Saturday. Would rather be at the barn with Gabe, but I have years left for that sort of self-indulgence. Some things are more important. Worst of it is, her grandson whom she is very, very close to, has a school play that day. Not only will she not have his help, but she will miss his play. I hope it is not her last chance to see him in a school play, but I fear that it is.

Celebrate life today my friends. Pursue it enthusiastically, and hug those you love!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you're all having a great day.

Mine has been pretty uneventful so far. It really is a yucky day... drizzling rain and kind of muggy. Just when I think it's going to stay cold, they tell me that the high for today is 67 degrees! I wish there was some consistency, at least. Tonight I have a bit of work to do for school and I'm not feeling very motivated. I've been really tired lately and I have a feeling that it's because of the time change. I used to stay up until around midnight every night, but lately I've been in bed at around 10. I stepped on the scales this morning, even though I don't have an official weigh-in day, and it read 282.6, which means that I'm down 4 lbs total this week.

Not much else for me, so let's get on with all of you!

Jeanne, :welcome3: Oh my goodness! A chocolate factory? If I worked there my name tag would have to say "Augustus Gloop".

Battle, I don't think lighting has anything to do with how fantastic your new picture looks! And flourless chocolate cake is probably one of my favorite desserts...

Nancy, after hearing you and Ratkity talk about the food at the Native American Museum in D.C. I might have to get Jed to go with me. I've heard such wonderful things about it. Good luck painting your room and be sure to post pictures when it's all done!

Ratkity, for some reason cold weather does tend to make people care less about things. I have a very fit, gorgeous friend who is like a size 2 who said the other day that she was cold and has decided to fatten herself up to stay warm and that it won't matter anyway because no one will be able to tell under all of the bulky sweaters and coats... haha.

Carrie, my weight can go up 7 lbs because of TOM if I'm not careful about drinking lots and lots of water.

Catherine, that ice wine sounds really interesting. I hadn't heard of it before you mentioned it. After those other ladies lost, was there a drunken rendition of "We Are the Champions"? Haha.

Annie, :congrat: on getting that job! I had a feeling that you would. I love Fashion Bug, but the closest one to me is 45 minutes away... have fun shopping!

Carol, Jed loved the squash. He's still talking about it, in fact. It's one of the rare occasions that I actually decided to write down one of my creations so that I can duplicate it at a later time. I still haven't decided what to talk his folks. I have until next Tuesday evening... hopefully inspiration will strike before then...

Debbie, glad to hear no trees fell. I've noticed that since it's gotten colder I've been craving more comfort foods because they tend to be warm and gooey.

Zelma, hope the heat isn't too bad and that you enjoy your classes next year, even if it's not just one same group of kids.

Heather, I guess for you "winter break" is a misnomer! Haha. Good luck with managing all of your upcoming busy times.

Donna, I hear ya about the laziness and not wanting to go to the store... I definitely get like that sometimes and resort to eating frozen dinners and stuff out of the pantry for a couple of days. :o

Valerie, yay for Gabe coming home tonight! That is really nice of you to help out your friend. I can't imagine holding up a commitment like that if I had cancer... she sounds like a remarkable person to keep her word when she's so ill.

To all of the lurkers, come out, come out wherever you are!!! :)

Hi everyone! Thanks for the wonderful welcome! I knew you would all enjoy my job! :D lol! It is very very very very, did I mention....very, difficult to diet! I absolutely love my job though! I used to be an administrative assistant at the Police Department - and actually - I ate more sitting there all day long - not to mention the stress! I hit my highest weight there! Anyways....I'm at work now! I just went to the bank and it is 62 degrees outside! woooohoooooo! I live in northern pennsylvania so 62 in November is ...wow! Erie, Pa had 6" of snow last week! I think I'll get my dear hubby to put up the outside Christmas lights tonight!:devil:

Lindsey - I'll give that recipe a try! Thanks for sharing!

Everyone else - Thanks again for the great welcome! I'll post more when I'm not at work! :nono:
Have a great day!

Hi Girls
Having issues trying to stay on track. I have been stressed to the max and now that my big craft sale is over I need to be able to get it together and start back again. I am sure I gained 20lbs. Scared to jump on the scale. Anyhow, just finallly having the time to come here for the first time in weeks. You'll be seeing more of me again!

B

Ratkitten: I hope you are drinking lots of water.

Nancy: I think you made a good decision to wait for your bed until after you paint. I'm a messy painter too. Have fun at Zumba class.

Catherine: You crack me up. Poor, poor hubby. lol.

Valie: Huge, Huge Hugs to you. You are so special to go and help your friend. Your in my prayers sweetie. Yeah to Gabe coming home. GIve him a kiss on the nose for me.

Lindsey: Woohoo on another -4 pounds! You go girl.

Jeanne: I want my Christmas lights up too. lol. I love, love Christmas lights.

Brenda: Welcome back. It's okay. Just jump back on the wagon and give it heck!

Well, I managed to spend $125 on 4 new skirts and 2 new sweaters. One of the skirts I bought at Ross for... $3.99 I couldn't believe it. I am going to check Ross out more and more as I lose weight. What a great store. I also bought some twin size flannel sheets there for my other spare bed. After I wash them then I'll have flannel sheets for both of my spare beds now. I'm happy and hope that our company will be happy with it. lol.

Well, off to group meeting then Bible study. I don't start my job until Monday which is just fine. I did go by there today for paperwork and have more to do on Friday.

Blessings all,
annie

Hi everyone,

Thank you again for all your compliments on my avatar. Just to clear up, I am not being hard on myself about the pics. I only meant that my friend is better at taking pictures than the average person, and she knows how to find the angles and set the lighting so it's most flattering. It is me, but the flaws are minimized in the pic, whereas you'd see them more clearly in an average photo.

That doesn't take away from the fact that I look better now than I used to. And I think I'm not half bad looking for an old gal. I am fortunate to have unusual coloring, what with the dark hair (now dyed back from grey), white skin, and green eyes. I wish I had understood and believed it when others told me I was pretty when I was younger. Now, I'm not going to waste more years concentrating on my flaws and focusing on the negatives until I feel uglier than a monster, and attracting all that such an attitude brings. I am carrying myself with more confidence, and on the days I feel unattractive and unworthy, am practicing the fake-it-till-you-make-it doctrine.

------
Oh gosh, today I was attending a meeting and had breakfast and lunch at the Four Seasons Hotel. 'nuff said. I feel full and bloated.

Annie: Big, big congratulations on getting the job. I couldn't be more happy for you! You must have showed them your beautiful personality and they couldn't resist.

Carrie: Yay on the loan. Now you can concentrate on the reason you wanted the loan. My weight fluctuates a lot.

Catherine: I have never had ice wine. Is it available in the US, do you know? You made me laugh about picturing you getting drunk. What I want to know is, did you really drink with imminent physicians or eminent physicians? Students or bigwigs? : )

More later everyone!

Battle-I don't know if ice wine is just in Canada or not. These guys aren't students. They are heads of research foundations. The amount of money they had to pay to be here is just beyond my comprehension. It would probably pay off our mortgage.

Catherine, It's absolutely breathtaking beautiful where you visited.
I am officially jealous.
Hugs,
Sandy

Annie, I'm so proud of you!! COngrats!!
Remember to get a good nights rest tonight.:carrot::hug:

Val- The sentence at the end of your post really hit me. I'm using it in my signature from now on and using it as my screen saver at work. Thank you so much for a positive reflection on life.
I"m glad Gabe is home now and I so respect you helping your friend. You're a good good woman.


Jeanne :welcome:


Brenda- I too have been struggling lately. Lots of stress and wet weather. It's been warm here, but that's about to change. I just wish it' would get cold and stay cold. Lots of people at work are sick. Of course, NOT the witch, but lots of others. Hang in there!!


Annie-I have flannel sheets on our king size bed. I just love them.
I just need to find where Miss Abby found heres.


Story-I'm so sorry you're feeling poorly. I"m a worrier too. It's good you called the dr since this has been going on for awhile. He'll giv e you good news and you'll feel better.


Nothing new here to report. Still struggling, but not giving up.
I'm not carrying hardly any cash with me so I have to stay out of the junk food machine at work. I'd been so, so thirsty and craving soda.
But, I've found the chilled bottle water they provide at work is just so delicious. It's taken that craving as well too.
Hugs to all and let's all keep plugging along.:hug:

Story -- Where's the pain? I once fell down the stairs and really hurt my coccyx -- the bone at the base of the spine. I couldn't sit much at all. Lying down hurt, but not as bad if you got the angle right, and going from sitting to standing was pure torture. I hope you figure out what's wrong!!

I'm beginning to think that I suck at losing weight....matter of fact...I KNOW I suck at losing weight after today.
We went out today to get a few things from the store, and I intentionally bought the big box of Mike and Ike candies, and sat here and ate them all in one afternoon...that is 700 calories!!! Then to top it off, I ate two Little Debbie cakes, add another 270, then 3 bags of chips, o gee, the small bags, like that makes a difference, which is 960. That's beside what I had for breakfast, lunch and dinner which were actually healthy meals, but with all the other crap I ate, why do I even try? I'm getting so disgusted with myself. I know it's stress because my son won't be around for the holidays, and we've never missed one together...EVER!! So this is really tuff for me. My husband's hours at work are to where he barely makes 40 a week now, so money is tight. Daisy for some reason is limping around today. It's her front foot now so I don't know if she fell while we were gone or what's going on with her now.
So what do I do? I eat and eat, and think of how hard those pounds that I'm packing on are going to be to get back off.
I've probably had over 4000 calories today. That's disgusting, and I know it, but I keep feeding my face. I feel out of control. I feel disgusted. I feel like a failure.
Sorry for the rant, and it seems I complain on here more and more, and you're all probably tired of me complaining. I'm sorry. But you ladies know what I'm going thru. No one in my family feels what I feel at this point and it's not something you can explain to someone else.
So, sorry, but thank you so much for reading.
Debbie
p.s. Sorry I just can't do personals tonight. I don't feel that I'm good for anyone right now.